Hands-On Activity Demo
TCH 347 Social Studies Methods
Hands-on Lesson Activity Plan
Lesson Topic: Human Rights
Grade Level: 3rd
Time: 1 class

PA Standards:
  • 5.1.3.C: Define the principles and ideals shaping local government.

-Liberty / Freedom
-Democracy
-Justice
-Equality

NCSS Theme: Culture; Individual Development and Identity

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will be able to become more aware of their relationship to human rights in regards to equality, justice, fairness, civil rights, and social justice
  • Students will be able to use pipe cleaners to produce their own image of their “equal duck”


Materials Preparation:

  • Pieces of blank construction paper for the student drawings of ugly duckling/swan
  • Coloring utensils (markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.)
  • 4 white pipe cleaners (each student)
  • 1 orange pipe cleaner (each student)
  • Googly eyes


Hands-on Activity Description: The teacher will discuss the story of The Ugly Duckling with the group of students. Have the students discuss the way the cygnet felt. Ask: (I) Have you ever felt this way? (II) Have you felt alone because other children would not play with you? (III) Have other children ever laughed at you? (IV) How should the other animals treat him? Next, the teacher would introduce the vocabulary words (fairness, citizenship, & equality). Ask: (I) Were the barnyard animals good citizens? (II) Were the animals fair? (III) Should they have treated the cygnet the same or equal, even though he was different? Then, have the students do their follow-up procedure by taking the blank pieces of construction paper and drawing a picture of the Ugly Duckling when he was treated unjustly on one side, and then on the other side, have them draw him when he grows to be a swan and becomes “equal”. Finally, the students will be able to create their own little “equal duck” with the materials available (pipe cleaners and eyes).
external image UGLY_DUCKLING_by_FERNL.jpg

Assessment: I will do an informal assessment by taking observations and anecdotal notes of the students’ work, behavior, and attitudes.